Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Airborne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Airborne’ particularly characterized by flowers which are mainly purple with irregular white bands at the margins and in the labellum some yellow; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Airborne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Airborne’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Airborne’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Airborne’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sogo Tris’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Ta-Lin’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Airborne’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Airborne’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are mainly purple with irregular white bands at        the margins and in the labellum some yellow;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Airborne’, the flowers ofthe female parent ‘Sogo Tris’ are white with red/purple marks and alarge purple midlobe and the male parent ‘Ta-Lin’ has white coloredflowers, whereas the flowers of ‘Airborne’ are mainly purple withirregular white bands at the margins and in the labellum some yellow.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Airborne’ can bemeaningfully compared is ‘Ophelia’ (unpatented). ‘Airborne’ is a littlesmaller than ‘Ophelia’. The flowers of ‘Airborne’ are mainly purple withirregular white bands at the margins, whereas the flowers of ‘Ophelia’have more white and have many purple marks and spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Airborne’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Airborne’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Airborne’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Airborne’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Airborne’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Airborne’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Airborne’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Airborne’is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phaseof ‘Airborne’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the dayand 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Airborne’ are a minimumof 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer withlevel of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growthof ‘Airborne’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Airborne’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Sogo Tris’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Ta-Lin’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-7            mm wide and green in color (a combination of RHS 191B and            RHS 191C); freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants            growing in tissue culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest            flower): about 50 cm. Spread: about 45 to 90 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Small; green leaves (RHS 139A) and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 1-4 racemes with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval/egg-shaped, the tip is little            pointy and asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 11 to 16 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 to 10 mm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS 139A). Under side:            green (RHS 137B and 146D).        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS 139A). Under side: green (RHS 139C).-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Raceme.—Quantity per plant: about 1 to 4. Number of flowers            per raceme: about 6 to 19. Length: about 30 to 50 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Diameter: about 4 to 6 mm. Strength: strong.            Aspect: upright. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: green            (RHS 138A).        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 30 mm. Diameter            (at midpoint): about 10 to 18 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped            with a bump on the side. Color: yellow/green (RHS 145C) and            purple (RHSN79).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-4            racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers            can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a            plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            Phalaenopsis orchid: see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):            Height: about 29 mm to 50 mm. Diameter: about 39 mm to            55 mm. Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three            sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2            whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2            lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall            shape: broadly ovate, little triangular. Apex: oval. Margin:            entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:            about 22 mm. Width: about 23 mm. Texture: Upper surface:            smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color            (when fully opened): upper side: purple (RHS N79B) with a            red/purple edge (RHS N81A). The edge of the flower is white            (RHS NN155D). At the base starts a small white edge (RHS            NN155D) which turns wider at the top. Under side: outermost            edges (RHS N81A) runs in the middle out into RHS N81C. At            the base white and the edges also white (RHS NN155D) at the            top the white edge is much wider than at the base. Labellum:            Overall Representation: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities            at central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the            midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the            column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2            stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum            are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a            bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire. Apex: weakly undulate.            Length: about 15 mm to 20 mm. Width (not flattened): about            10 mm to 18 mm. Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of            labellum: about 9 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface:            smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Midlobe: upper            surface: At the top white (RHS NN155D) and purple (RHS 84D)            with purple spots (combination RHS 79B and RHS 79C). At the            base yellow (RHS 3A) with red/purple spots (RHS 60A). At the            base and in the center darker purple spot (RHS N92A). Under            surface: from the cirrhi white (RHS NN155D) which runs into            purple (RHS 84D) with purple spots (RHS 79B) and at the side            purple spots (RHS N78A). At the base some yellow (RHS 3A).            Lateral lobes: upper surface: from the base the upper side            is purple (RHS N79A) which runs into RHS N80A. the lower            edge is yellow (RHS 3A). At the end white edge (RHS NN155D)            with purple spots in it (RHS N80A). Under surface: white            (RHS NN155D), from base the lower edge is yellow (RHS 3A).            From base the upper edge is RHS N79D which runs into RHS            N79A and a little bit RHS N80A. Cirrhi: about 0.5 mm.            (little tips). Color: RHS NN155D. Pestle (Callosities):            Length: about 3 mm. Width (not flattened): about 3 mm.            Color: the upper side and inner side are purple (RHS N77A).            Sides and front are yellow/orange (RHS 15C).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one            dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: egg-shaped.            Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length: about 23 mm.            Width: about 20 mm. Apex: lateral is oval and dorsal is            round. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny.            Color (when fully opened): upper side: purple (RHS N79B)            with a lighter edge (RHS N81A) which runs into white (RHS            NN155D). Under side: main color is purple (RHS N79B) with a            the top a white edge (RHS NN155D). At some sepals at the            base a little green (RHS 146D).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 23 to 35 mm. Diameter: about 2 to            4 mm. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: at the flower            yellow/green (RHS 150D) at the pedicel red/purple (RHS 71A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155D) in the middle a purple stripe (RHS N78B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:            yellow/orange (RHS 23A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color:            purple (RHS N78A).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Airborne’, as illustrated and described herein.